SIXTH form students enjoyed an out-of-this-world day when they took part in a pioneering physics programme.

Sponsored by physics educational charity The Odgen Trust, the programme gave students from Chipping Campden, Alcester Grammar and Kineton High Schools the unique opportunity to explore the science of sound and application of physics in the film industry.

Hosted by Dolby Laboratories in Wootton Bassett, students enjoyed a talk by sound engineer James Shannon who shared his experience of working on the Harry Potter films and outlined his career path that led him to join the company.

Students were invited to a private screening in the Dolby Atmos cinema of the Oscar-winning film Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts involved in the mid-orbit destruction of a space shuttle and their attempt to return to Earth.

They were also given a talk by Sophie Allan, lead physics teacher at the National Space Centre, who challenged them to identify any physics errors in the film.

Jackie Flaherty, Head of Physics at Chipping Campden School and Ogden Trust Teacher Fellow, said: "The aim of the day was to show the students how relevant their study of physics is and ways it is applied in the hugely-popular entertainment sector and the cutting-edge space industry.

"It really broadened their horizons in terms of career options.”

Jonathan Jowitt, Evangelist and Technical Expert for Content Provider Services Dolby, said: “Students today are expected to make choices that will decide their opportunities in life, without being shown what opportunities a background in technology and engineering can deliver.

"We teamed up with the National Space Academy to offer students a new and exciting perspective of where studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects can take them.

"The students have been given access to industry experts such as Dolby sound engineers, who can talk through the career path that led them to work on the sound behind blockbuster movies."

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